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LIMITS AND
CONTINUITY-
INTUITIVE
APPROACH
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
Know the concept of limits and continuity;
Understand the theoruems underlying limits and their applications; and
Know how to solve the problems relating to limits and continuity with the help of given
illustrations.
8.1 INTRODUCTION
Intuitively we call a quantity y a function of another quantity x if there is a rule (method
procedure) by which a unique value of y is associated with a corresponding value of x.
A function is defined to be rule that associates to any given number x a single number f(x)
to be read as function of x. f(x) does not mean f times x. It means given x, the rule f results
the number f(x).
Symbolically it may be written in the form y = f(x).
In any mathematical function y = f(x) we can assign values for x arbitrarily; consequently
x is the independent variable while the variable y is dependent upon the values of the
independent variable and hence dependent variable.
Example 1: Given the function f(x) = 2x + 3 show that f(2x) = 2 f(x) 3.
Solution: LHS. f(2x) = 2 (2x) + 3 = 4x + 6 3 = 2(2x + 3) 3
= 2 f(x) 3.
f(x+h)-f(x)
Example 2: If f(x) = ax2 + b find .
h
f(x+h)-f(x) a(x+h)2 +b-ax 2 -b a (x 2 +2xh+h 2 -x 2 ) h a(2x+h)
Solution: = = =
h h h h
= a(2x + h)
Note: f (x) = | x a | means f (x) = x a for x > a
= a x for x < a.
= x a for x = a
Example 3: If f(x) = |x| + |x 2| then redefine the function. Hence find f (3.5), f ( 2),
f(1.5).
Solution: If x > 2 f (x) = x + x 2 = 2x 2
If x < 0 f (x) = x x + 2 = 2 2x
If 0 < x < 2. f (x) = x x + 2 = 2
So the given function can be redefined as
M ATHS 8.3
Periodic functions: A function f (x) in which the range of the independent variable can be
separated into equal sub intervals such that the graph of the function is the same in each
part then it is periodic function. Symbolically if f(x + p) = f(x) for all x, then p is the period
of f(x).
Inverse function: If y = f(x) defined in an interval (a, b) is a function such that we express
x as a function of y, say x = g(y) then g(y) is called the inverse of f(x)
5x+3 3-9y
Example: i) if y= , then x=
2x+9 2y-5 is the inverse of the first function.
Composite Function: If y = f(x) and x = g(u) then y = f {g(u)} is called the function of a
function or a composite function.
x 1 +x 2
1+x
Example : If a function f(x) = log prove that f(x1) + f(x2) = f 1+x x
1-x 1 2
1+x 1 1+x 2
Solution : f(x1)+f(x2) = log + log
1-x 1 1-x 2
1+x1 1+x 2
= log
1-x1 1-x 2
x1 +x 2
1+
1+ x 1 + x 2 + x1 x 2 1+x 1x 2 x 1 +x 2
=log =f
= log 1 x1 x 2 + x1x 2 x +x
1- 1 2 1+x1x 2 . Hence the result is proved
1+x1x 2
Exercise 8(A)
Choose the most appropriate option (a) (b) (c) or (d)
1. Given the function f(x) = x2 5, f( 5 ) is equal to
a) 0 b) 5 c) 10 d) none of these
5 x +1
2. If f(x)= then f(x) is
5 x -1
a) an even function b) an odd function
c) a composite function d) none of these
f (4h) f (4)
7. If f(x) = 2x2 5x +2 then the value of is
h
a) 11 2h b) 11 + 2h c) 2h 11 d) none of these
px-q
8. If y=h(x)= then x is equal to
qx-p
M ATHS 8.5
Here x approaches 2 from values of x<2 and for x being very close to 2 f(x) is very close to
4. This situation is defined as left-hand limit of f(x) as x approaches 2 and is written as lim
f(x) = 4 as x 2
Next
x f(x)
2.0001 4.0002
2.001 4.002
2.01 4.02
2.0 4
Here x approaches 2 from values of x greater than 2 and for x being very close to 2 f(x) is
very close to 4. This situation is defined as righthand limit of f(x) as x approaches 2 and
is written as lim f(x) = 4 as x 2 +
So we write
lim f(x) = lim f(x) = 4
x 2 x 2
Thus lim f ( x) is said to exist when both left-hand and right-hand limits exists and they
xa
lim 2
x0
Similarly if x approaches zero from right-hand side for values of x>0, f(x) is approaching
2 0 + 2 = 2. We can write this as lim f(x) = 2.
x 0
That is limit of the sum of two functions is equal to the sum of their limits.
That is limit of the difference of two functions is equal to difference of their limits.
That is limit of the product of two functions is equal to the product of their limits.
That is limit of the quotient of two functions is equal to the quotient of their limits.
viii) 1 1
lim lim (h 0)
x 0 x h 0 h
1 1
lim lim (h 0)
x 0 x h 0 h
1
Thus lim does not exist.
x0 x
M ATHS 8.7
1 1
Example 1: Evaluate: (i) lim (3 x 9) ; (ii) lim (iii) lim
x 2 x 5 x 1 xa xa
Solution: (i) lim(3 x 9) 3.2 9 (6 9) 15
x 2
1 1 1
(ii) lim
x 5 x 1 5 1 4
1 1 1
(iii) lim lim
does not exist, since x and lim - -
xa xa a+ x-a x a x - a
x 2 5x 6
Example 2: Evaluate lim .
x 2 x2
Solution: At x = 2 the function becomes undefined as 2-2 = 0 and division by zero is not
mathematically defined.
= 2-3 = -1
x2 2x 1
Example 3: Evaluate xlim
2 .
x2 2
2 2
x 2 2 x 1 xlim ( x 2 x 1) lim x lim 2x 1
Solution: lim 2 x 2 x2
x 2 2 2
x 2 lim x 2 lim x 2 2
x2 x 2
(2)2 2 2 1 7
=
(2)2 2 6
lim
(e x -1)
a) x 0
=1
x
ax -1
b) lim =log e a (a>0)
x0 x
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
x 2 -6x+9 x2 6 x + 9
Example 1: Evaluate: lim , where f(x) = . Also find f (3)
x 3 x-3 x3
Since L.H. limit = R.H. Limit, the limit exists. Thus, lim
x0
f(x) = 0.
M ATHS 8.9
1
Example 3: Does lim
xmQ
exist ?
Qx
1 1
Solution: lim = l d and lim =+ d ;
x lQ +0 Q -x xl
[
1 1 1
R.H.L. lim
x mQ
lim
m0 Q Q lim
hm 0 h
m d
Q x h x
Since the limits are unequal the limit does not exist.
1 1 1
R.H.L. = xlim lim lim m d
mQ Q x hmv Q (Q h hm0 h
x 2 +4x+3
Example 4: : lim .
x l 3 x 2 +6x+9
x 2 +4x+3 x+1 4 2
xl3 2
lim = lim = = .
x +6x+9 xl3 x+3 6 3
Example 5: Find the following limits:
x -3 x+h - x
(i) lim (ii) lim if h > 0.
x l9 x-9 hl 0 h
Solution:
x -3 x -3 1 x -3 1 1
(i) = = . xlim = xlim
l9 x+3 = 6
.
x-9 ( x +3) ( x -3) x +3 l9 x-9
x x
Solution: It may be noted that approaches as x approaches . i.e. xlim
9 9
9
x/9
1
9
x
lim 1+ = x/9
lim
x
1+
x x
9
9
1 z
1+
Substituting x/9 = z the above expression takes the form z
lim
z
9
1
z
= lim 1+ =e9 .
z z
2x+1
Example 9: Evaluate: xlim
x3 +1 . Form
2 1
lim + lim
2 1 2 1
+ + lim
2 x 3 x x 2 x 3 x x 2 x x 3 0+0 0
lim x = = = = 0.
x 1 1 1 1+0 1
1+ lim 1+ lim 1+ lim
x 3 x
x 3 x x x 3
M ATHS 8 .1 1
2 2 2 2
Example 10: Find lim 1 +2 +3 +..........+x
x md x3
12 +2 2 +3 2 +..........+x 2
Solution: xlim
lr x3
[x(x+1)(2x+1)] 1 1 1
lim = lim 1+ 2+
xld 6x3 6 xld x x
1 1
= 12= .
6 3
1 2 3 n
Example 11: lim
+ + ....................... +
n md 1-n 2 1-n 2 1-n 2 1-n 2
1 2 3 n
= lim + + ....................... +
n md
Solution :
1-n 2 1-n 2 1-n 2 1-n 2
1
= lim
n md
(1+2+3 ..+n)
1-n 2
1 n(n+1)
= lim
n md 2
1-n 2
1 n(n+1)
= lim
n md 2
1-n 2
1 n
lim
=
2 n md 1-n
1 1
= lim 1
2 xmd -1
n
1 1 1 1
lim (1) = -
md 0-1 2
= n
=
2 2
Exercise 8 (B)
Choose the most appropriate option (a) (b) (c) or (d)
1. lim f (x) when f(x) = 6 is
x l0
a) 6 b) 0 c) 1/6 d) none of these
a) 6 b) 4 c) 8 d) none of these
x 2 -4
3. lim is equal to
x-2 x+2
a) 0 b) 5 c) 2 d) none of these
5. lim logex is evaluated to be
x1
a) 0 b) e c) 1 d) none of these
6. The value of the limit of f(x) as x 3 when f(x) = e x2 +2x+1 is
15
a) e b) e16 c) e10 d) none of these
8 x 3 -1
7. lim 2 is equal to
x 1/2 6 x -5 x+ 1
a) 5 b) 6 c) 6 d) none of these
1+2x 2 - 1-2x 2
8. lim is equal to
x0 x2
a) 2 b) 2 c) d) none of these
x-q - p-q
9. lim (p>q) is evaluated as
xp
x 2 -p 2
1 1 1
a) p p-q b) 4p p-q c) 2p p-q d) none of these
(3x -1)
10. lim is equal to
x0 x
a) 10 3 log103 b) log3e c) loge3 d) none of these
5x +3x -2
11. lim will be equal to
x0 x
a) loge15 b) log (1/15) c) log e d) none of these
M ATHS 8 .1 3
10 x 5 x -2 x 1
12. lim is equal to
x l0 x2
a) loge2 + loge5 b) loge2 loge5 c) loge10 d) none of these
f(x+h)-f(x)
13. If f(x) = ax2 + bx+c then lim is equal to
x l0 h
a) ax +b b) ax + 2b c) 2ax +b d) none of these
2x 2 -7x+6
14. lim is equal to
xl2 5x -11x+2
2
x 3 -5x 2 +2x+2
15. lim 3 is equal to
xl1 x +2x -6x+3
2
x 3 -t 3
16. lim 2 2 is evaluated to be
xlt x -t
3
a) 3/2 b) 2/3t c) t d) none of these
2
4x 4 +5x 3 7x 2 +6x
17. lim is equal to
x l0 5x 5 +7x 2 +x
a) 7 b) 5 c) 6 d) none of these
3x4 + 5x2 + 7x + 5
19. lim is evaluated
xlr 4x2
3
a) b) 3 c) 1/4 d) none of these
4
(e x + e -x - 2 ) (x 2 -3x +2)
20. lim is equal to
xl0
(x-1)
a) 1 b) 0 c) 1 d) none of these
(x 2 -16)
22. lim
xl 4
is equal to
(x-4)
a) 8 b) 8 c) 0 d) none of these
x2 - x
23. lim is equal to
x l1 x -1
a) 3 b) 1/3 c) 3 d) none of these
x3 1
24. lim
x m1 x 1 is equal to
a) 3 b) 1/3 c) 3 d) none of these
(1+ x)6 1
25. f( x) = then lim f( x) is equal to
x m0
(1+ x)2 1
a) 1 b) 3 c) 0 d) none of these
(1+px)
26. lim log is equal to
x l0 e 3x -1
a) p/3 b) p c) 1/3 d) none of these
1
27. lim 3 2 is equal to
x
x + x + x +1
a) 0 b) e c) e6 d) none of these
2x 2 +7x+5
28. lim is equal to A where A is
xld 4x 2 +3x-1
(x x -m m )
29. lim is equal to
x ld 1-x -2/3
a) 1 b) 1 c) 1/ 2 d) none of these
(x + 2 ) 5 / 3 -(p + 2 ) 5 / 3
30. lim is equal to
x l0 x -p
M ATHS 8 .1 5
x 3 +3x 2 -9x-2
31. If f(x) = and lim f(x) exists then lim (x) is equal to
x 3 -x-6 x2 x2
2 ex
32. lim is equal to
x 7 e x
2
a) b) 0 c) 1 d) none of these
7
4-x 2
33. lim is equal to
x2 3- x 2 +5
a) 6 b) 1/6 c) 6 d) none of these
x 3/2 -2 3/4
34. xlim exists and is equal to a finite value which is
2
x -21/4
a) 5 b) 1/6 c) 32 d) none of these
1
35. lim log (1x/2) is equal to
x 0
x
a) 1/2 b) 1/2 c) 2 d) none of these
( x 1)2
36. lim 2 is equal to
x 1 ( x 1)( x 1)
1
a) 1 b) 0 c) d) none of these
2
13 + 23 + 33 + - - +x3
37. lim
x is equal to
x4
a) 1/4 b) 1/2 c) 1/4 d) none of these
8.6 CONTINUITY
By the term continuous we mean something which goes on without interruption and
without abrupt changes. Here in mathematics the term continuous carries the same
meaning. Thus we define continuity of a function in the following way.
A function f(x) is said to be continuous at x = a if and only if
(i) f(x) is defined at x = a
1
Moreover f(1/2) =
2
1 1
Hence f(x) is not continuous of x = , i.e. f (x) is discontinuous at x
2 2
x 2 +2x+5
Example 2 : Find the points of discontinuity of the function f(x) = 2
x -3x+2
x 2 +2x+5 x 2 +2x+5
Solution : f(x) = 2 =
x -3x+2 (x-1) (x-2)
For x = 1 and x = 2 the denominator becomes zero and the function f(x) is undefined at
x = 1 and x = 2. Hence the points of discontinuity are at x = 1 and x = 2.
Example 3 : A function g(x) is defined as follows:
g(x) = x when 0< x < 1
= 2 x when x 1
Is g(x) is continuous at x = 1?
M ATHS 8 .1 7
Solution :
lim g(x) = lim x = 1
x1- x1-
Also g(1) = 2 1 = 1
So f(x) is continuous at x = 0.
Exercise 8(C)
Choose the most appropriate option (a) (b) (c) or (d)
1. If f(x) is an odd function then
f(-x)+f(x)
a) is an even function
2
b) [| x | + 1 ] is even when [x] = the greater integer x <
(x+1)
6. If f(x) = then lim f(x) and f(-1)
6x 2 +3+3x x l-1
a) both exists b) one exists and other does not exist
c) both do not exists d) none of these.
x 2 -1
7. lim is evaluated to be
x l1 3x+1- 5x-1
a) 4 b) 1/4 c) 4 d) none of these.
M ATHS 8 .1 9
Now f(x) is
a) discontinuous at x = 0 b) continuous at x = 0
c) undefined at x = 0 d) none of these.
10. If f(x) = 5+3x for x > 0 and f(x) = 5 3x for x < 0 then f(x) is
a) continuous at x = 0
b) discontinuous and defined at x = 0
c) discontinuous and undefined at x = 0
d) none of these.
(x-1)2
11. lim +(x 2 -1)
x 1 x-1
a) does not exist b) exists and is equal to zero
c) is equal to 1 d) none of these.
4 x+1 -4
12. lim
x0
2x
a) does not exist b) exists and is equal to 4
c) exists and is equal to 4 loge2 d) none of these.
(x 2 -16)
13. Let f(x) = for x 4
(x-4)
=8 for x = 4
Then the given function is not continuous for
(a) limit f(x) does not exist
(b) limiting value of f(x) for x 4 is not equal to its function value f(4)
(c) f(x) is not defined at x = 4
(d) none of these.
14. A function f(x) is defined by f(x) = (x2)+x over all real values of x, now f(x) is
(a) continuous at x = 2 (b) discontinuous at x = 2
(c) undefined at x = 2 (d) none of these.
15. A function f(x) defined as follows f(x) = x+1 when x < 1
= 3 px when x > 1
The value of p for which f(x) is continuous at x = 1 is
(a) 1 (b) 1 (c) 0 (d) none of these.
16. A function f(x) is defined as follows :
(e 2x -1)
20. lim is equal to
x0 x
(a) (b) 2 (c) 0 (d) none of these.
e x +1
21. lim is evaluated to be
x e x +2
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 1 (d) none of these.
x n -3 n
22. If lim x-3 = 108 then the value of n is
x3
(a) 4 (b) 4 (c) 1 (d) none of these.
23. f(x) = (x2 1) / (x3 1) is undefined at x = 1 the value of f(x) at x = 1 such that it is
continuous at x = 1 is
(a) 3/2 (b) 2/3 (c) 3/2 (d) none of these.
24. f(x) = 2x |x| is
(a) undefined at x = 0 (b) discontinuous at x = 0
(c) continuous at x = 0 (d) none of these.
M ATHS 8 .2 1
x 5/2 -2 5/4
31. lim is equal to
x 2 x -21/4
(a) 1/ 10 (b) 10 (c) 20 (d) none of these.
1 x
32. lim 2 - 3 is evaluated to be
1 x +x-2 x -1
x
1 1 1 1
33. lim + + 3 + + n is
6 6 6 6
n 2
(a) uvw (b) log uvw (c) log (1/uvw) (d) none of these.
x
35. lim is equal to
x 0 log(1+x)
ANSWERS
Exercise 8(A)
1. a 2. b 3. c 4. a 5. a 6. a 7. b 8. c
9. b 10. a
Exercise 8(B)
1. a 2. c 3. b 4. c 5. c 6. b 7. c 8. a
9. b 10. c 11. a 12. d 13. c 14. a 15. b 16. c
17. a 18. c 19. a 20. b 21. b 22. a 23. c 24. a
25. b 26. a 27. a 28. b 29. d 30. d 31. a 32. c
33. a 34. c 35. a 36. c 37. a
Exercise 8(C)
1. a 2. b, c 3. a,c 4. a 5. b 6. b 7. c 8. d
9. b 10. a 11. a 12. c 13. b 14. a 15. b 16. a
17. b 18. c 19. a 20. b 21. c 22. a 23. b 24. c
25. a 26. b 27. c 28. a 29. a 30. a 31. b 32. c
33. a 34. b 35. a
M ATHS 8 .2 3
2. The value of the limit when n tends to infinity of the expression (n 4 -7n 2 + 9) (3n 2 + 5) is
4. The value of the limit when n tends to infinity of the expression (2n) [(2n-1) (3n+ 5)] is
7. The value of the limit when x tends to zero of the expression (1+x)1/n is
n
8. The value of the limit when n tends to infinity of the expression 1+ 1 n is
13. The value of the limit when x tends to unity of the expression [(3+x)1/2 -(5-x)1/2 ](x 2 -1) is
(A) 1/4 (B) (C) 1/4 (D) 1/2
14. The value of the limit when x tends to 2 of the expression (x-2)-1 -(x 2 -3x+2)-1 is
M ATHS 8 .2 5
lim n -n-1 -1
22. Find n n (n+1) n
lim
23. Find (2n-1)2 n (2n+1)-1 2 1-n
n
(A) 2 (B) 1/2 (C) 1 (D) None
lim n-1 -1 -n
24. Find n 2 (10+n)(9+n) 2
lim -1 -1 -1
34. Find n (1+n )[1+(2 n) ]
x
37. f(x) = , when x = 0, then f(x) is
x
(A) discontinuous at x = 0 (B) continuous at x = 0
(C) maxima at x = 0 (D) minima at x = 0
38. e -1/x [1+e1/x ]-1 is
(A) discontinuous at x = 0 (B) continuous at x = 0
(C) maxima at x = 0 (D) minima at x = 0
39. If f(x)=(x 2 -4)(x-2) for x<2, f(x)=4 for x=2 and f(x)=2 for x>2 , then f(x) at x = 2 is
1
40. If f(x)=x for 0 x<1/2, f(x)=1 for x=1/2 and f(x)=1-x for 1/2<x<1 then at x = the
2
function is
(A) discontinuous (B) continuous
(C) left-hand limit coincides with f(1/2) (D) right-hand limit coincides with left-hand limit.
M ATHS 8 .2 7
41. If f(x)=9x(x+2) for x<1, f(1)=1, f(x)=(x+3)x -1 for x>1, then in the interval (3, 3) the
function is
(A) continuous at x = 2
(B) continuous at x = 1
(C) discontinuous for values of x other than 2 and 0 in the interval (, )
(D) None
ANSWERS
1) A 2) D 3) A 4) A 5) D 6) A
7) A 8) A 9) A 10) A 11) A 12) A
13) A 14) A 15) B 16) A 17) A 18) A
19) B 20) C 21) C 22) A 23) A 24) B
25) C 26) A 27) D 28) A 29) B 30) C
31) A 32) A 33) A 34) C 35) C 36) C
37) A 38) A 39) A 40) A 41) C